Position, Price, Promote. The Service Provider’s Guide to Not Drowning in the Noisy Online World

I’ve bombed so many pitches I could write a comedy special about freelance fails. Seriously. There was this one time I spent weeks crafting what I thought was the perfect proposal, and the client ghosted me harder than a bad Tinder date.

Brutal? Yep. But that’s the online service world for you.

Here’s the thing nobody tells you: Being good at what you do is maybe 20% of the battle. The other 80%? Figuring out how to make people actually notice you without feeling like you’re that desperate person at the networking event who won’t stop talking.

I learned this the hard way. Years of watching more mediocre professionals land killer clients while I was sitting in my home office, wondering what magical secret I was missing.

Spoiler alert: There’s no magic. Just strategy.

Stop Blending In Like Beige Wallpaper

Look, you’re not “just another” anything. But if your marketing sounds like everyone else’s? You might as well be.

Quick Positioning Moves That Actually Work

1. Ditch the Generic Escript

•    Forget those cookie-cutter bio templates
•    Your story is weird. Embrace it.

 Example: Don’t say “I’m a marketing consultant”. Say “I help overwhelmed founders stop burning cash on marketing that doesn’t work”

2. Get Hyper-Specific

•    Who do you *really* want to work with? Niching doesn’t box you in. It targets your messaging.
•    Not “small businesses”. More like “tech startups who are sick of generic growth advice”
•    The more specific, the more attractive you become

3. Tell Your Origin Story

•    How’d you end up doing what you do?
•    People relate to stories, not services
•    Was it a massive screw-up? A random accident? Even better.

You’re Not Doing Charity Work

Pricing isn’t about what you think you’re worth. It’s about the value you deliver. And most people dramatically undervalue themselves.

Pricing Strategies That Don’t Suck

1. Stop Hourly Rates. Seriously.

•    You’re selling outcomes, not time
•    A genius solution that takes you 30 minutes is still a genius solution
•    Price like it

2. Choose a Pricing Strategy That Doesn’t Make You Cringe

Create Packages:

Tiered Offerings That Solve Different Levels of Problems

• Ideal if your services are standardizable.
• Makes it brain-dead simple for clients to say “yes.”
• Example: Basic, Pro, “Holy Crap This Is Amazing” levels.

Go Custom for Custom Needs:

Tailored Solutions Deserve Tailored Pricing

• When every client is a unique snowflake with unique needs.
• Show them you’re not giving a cookie-cutter solution.
• Communicate the extra value they’re getting.

Break It Into Two Steps: Strategy Then Implementation

First, Diagnose. Then, Treat.

• Charge separately for the strategic roadmap and the execution.
• Positions you as a trusted advisor, not just a pair of hands.
• Helps clients see the value in each phase of your work.

Retainers Are Your Friends

For When Ongoing Support Makes Sense

• Provides stability for you and consistency for the client.
• Great for services that require regular updates or maintenance.
• Just be crystal clear about what’s included to avoid scope creep.

Value-Based Pricing All the Way

Requires confidence and a solid case for ROI, but totally worth it.

• Price Based on the Outcome, Not the Hours
• You’re selling a transformation, not time in a chair.
• If you help a client make an extra $100K, charging $10K is a steal.

3. Confidence is Your Best Pricing Tool

•    If you sound unsure, clients will haggle
•    Know your worth. Own it.
•    The clients who try to nickel and dime you are NEVER your best clients

Getting Noticed Without Being Desperate

Promotion isn’t about screaming the loudest. It’s about being strategically visible.

Promotion Tactics That Actually Work:

1. Content That Doesn’t Suck

•    Stop creating bland, forgettable content
•    Solve ONE specific problem in each piece
•    Be honest. Be raw. Be you.

2. Build Real Relationships

•    Networking isn’t collecting business cards
•    Engage genuinely. Comment meaningfully.
•    Think “How can I actually help this person?”

3. Show, Don’t Just Tell

•    Case studies are your best friends
•    Real results. Real numbers.
•    “I helped X client increase Y by Z” beats “I’m awesome” every single time

Real Talk. This Isn’t a Magic Bullet

Will this solve all your problems? Nope. 

But it’s a hell of a lot better than what most people are doing. And the beautiful part? Most of your competition is too lazy to do this work.

Your move.

*Mic drop* 🎤